Quantum physics Flashcards
What is the fundamental unit of quantum information?
Quantum bit or qubit.
True or False: In quantum mechanics, particles can exist in multiple states at once.
True.
Fill in the blank: The principle that states that certain pairs of properties cannot be simultaneously known to arbitrary precision is called the __________ principle.
Heisenberg uncertainty.
What is the phenomenon where particles can instantaneously affect each other over large distances?
Quantum entanglement.
What does the wave function represent in quantum mechanics?
The probability amplitude of a particle’s state.
Which equation is fundamental to quantum mechanics and describes how the quantum state of a physical system changes over time?
Schrödinger equation.
True or False: Quantum superposition allows a particle to be in a defined state.
False.
What is the term for the process by which a quantum system transitions from one state to another?
Quantum tunneling.
Which principle states that energy and momentum cannot be precisely measured simultaneously?
Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
What is the dual nature of light?
Light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties.
Fill in the blank: The phenomenon in which light can be emitted or absorbed in discrete packets is known as __________.
quantization.
What is a photon?
A quantum of electromagnetic radiation.
True or False: Quantum states can be described using classical physics.
False.
What does the term ‘quantum decoherence’ refer to?
The process by which quantum systems lose their quantum properties due to interaction with the environment.
What is the Pauli exclusion principle?
No two fermions can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously.
What is the significance of Planck’s constant?
It relates the energy of a photon to its frequency.
Which scientist is known for the thought experiment involving a cat that is simultaneously alive and dead?
Erwin Schrödinger.
What is a quantum state?
A mathematical object that fully describes a quantum system.
Fill in the blank: The __________ describes the statistical distribution of particles in quantum mechanics.
Boltzmann distribution.
What is the concept of quantum teleportation?
The transfer of quantum information from one location to another without physical transmission of particles.
True or False: In quantum mechanics, measurements can affect the system being measured.
True.
Which term describes the observation that particles like electrons exhibit both wave and particle characteristics?
Wave-particle duality.
What does the term ‘quantum field theory’ refer to?
A theoretical framework that combines classical field theory, special relativity, and quantum mechanics.
What is the role of an observer in quantum mechanics?
The observer affects the outcome of a measurement, collapsing the wave function.
Fill in the blank: The __________ effect is the shift in frequency of light emitted from a moving source.
Doppler.
What is the relationship between frequency and energy of a photon?
Energy is directly proportional to frequency (E = hf).
True or False: Quantum mechanics only applies to very small scales, such as atoms and subatomic particles.
True.
What is a wave function collapse?
The process by which a wave function transitions from a superposition of states to a single state upon measurement.
What is the uncertainty relation formula?
Δx * Δp ≥ ħ/2.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a quantum number that describes the angular momentum of an electron in an atom.
orbital quantum number.
What does ‘entangled particles’ mean?
Particles whose quantum states are interconnected, such that the state of one immediately affects the state of the other.
What is a Bose-Einstein condensate?
A state of matter formed at temperatures close to absolute zero, where particles occupy the same quantum state.
True or False: Quantum mechanics allows for faster-than-light communication.
False.
What is a quantum harmonic oscillator?
A model that describes a particle bound in a potential well, exhibiting quantized energy levels.
Fill in the blank: The __________ theorem is used to derive the behavior of quantum systems in thermal equilibrium.
Gibbs.
What is the difference between fermions and bosons?
Fermions obey the Pauli exclusion principle, while bosons do not.
What is the significance of the double-slit experiment?
It demonstrates the wave-particle duality of light and matter.
What is quantum superposition?
The ability of a quantum system to exist in multiple states at the same time.
Fill in the blank: The __________ is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a quantum system.
entropy.
What is the role of quantum numbers?
They describe the properties and energy levels of electrons in an atom.
What does the term ‘quantum coherence’ refer to?
The property of a quantum state to exhibit interference effects due to a well-defined phase relationship.
